Tallit and Tzitzit Q&A❓

[@yarocdesigns]

Wonderful video! I learned so much. I would love to make my own tzitzit someday!

[@asmallsanctuary]

It’s very easy and happy to show you how!

[@joantilt2954]

Most interesting as always,and not too long. I'd like to hear of your own journey with tallit.

[@asmallsanctuary]

Glad it wasn’t too long ;-) and happy to hear you enjoyed it! If there are more requests coming in for a video on my tallit journey, I might consider it! Thank you for your lovely comment, as always - it is so appreciated.

[@helgacucumber3871]

I'd love to hear why I might want to be cautious with rainbow tzitzit (5:17) - I just bought some as I'm weaving/embroidering my own tallit this year as part of my conversion process and I had read elsewhere that in Reform halacha rainbow would be OK. I was planning on using black linen fabric with colorful embroidery (and the tzitzit are black and rainbow as well). I will definitely ask my rabbi as well. Thanks!

[@asmallsanctuary]

Hi Helga, thanks for your question! First of all, Mazal Tov on almost completing your conversion and welcome to the Tribe! Your question is a great question and I think the first part to unpack is what kind of (Halakhic) frame of reference do you use to answer it? Reform Judaism does not feel bound by Halakhah so it is totally reasonable for your Reform rabbi to say that it would be OK to use rainbow tzitzit. And if you and your rabbi are comfortable with that - go for it. When I produce content for this channel, I try to be mindful of classical Halakhah while also presenting post-Halakhic options as valid. It’s a hard balance to strike of course, but it is a matter of personal integrity to me to make sure I provide accurate Jewish information, irrespective whether people agree with it or not :-) In that light, I am mindful of the Halakhic ruling that the tzitzit must either be white (except for tekhelet) OR must perfectly match the color of the ‘beged’ (garment). So if you’re wearing a pink tallit (hi, Barbie! 😀), then the tzitziyot can either be white or the same shade of pink (with or without tekhelet). But the tradition frowns on having a pink tallit with, say, yellow tzitziyot. In the case of rainbow fringes, it gets complicated because it’s hard to establish a ‘majority color’ with rainbow fringes. It sounds like your tallit will have rainbow elements in it (the embroidery on the atarah) but the majority of the beged (garment) is black. Hence, halakhically it would make more sense to have black tzitziyot rather than rainbow ones. Unless your FoR is post-Halakhic and you’re not overly concerned whether the tallit is ‘kosher’ or not. (The same applies to the complicated question around garments mixing wool and linen, which is a Torah prohibition. It *might* be OK to have woolen tzitziyot in a linen beged but it skirts dangerously close to sha’atnez and many people would probably avoid that, just in case. But don’t hold me to that: I cannot make ‘Halakhic rulings on the spot’ if I haven’t researched them properly, but that is where my first thoughts take me). I think a secondary issue for me is less about Halakhic standing and more about ‘community of practice.’ I rarely see rabbinic Jews of any type (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox etc) wear rainbow tzitziyot. I do see a lot of commercially available rainbow tzitziyot in the Messianic/Hebrew Roots Christianity movement. While that may or may not be a concern to you, I must admit that it makes me a bit uncomfortable because I would not want to be seen to support Messianic ‘Jewish’ (🙄) practices. But YMMV on that one :-) All in all, if you want to learn more, see this podcast episode from Hadar. Hadar’s FoR is trad-egal (ie Halakhic) so again, YMMV, but it is an interesting listen. www.hadar.org/torah-tefillah/podcasts/my-tallit-supposed-be-white Last be not least: follow the ruling of your rabbi, the one you love and trust - and not an internet rabbi 😂 I am a real rabbi (I promise 😃) but the authority of your own spiritual leader trumps anything else anyone on the internet might say. However, I hope this answer was helpful to you and helped you expand your understanding of this mitzvah. Thank you for commenting and good luck finalizing your giyyur. I hope you have a lovely Beit Din and a spiritually transformative mikveh. Only blessings on your continued Jewish journey. May you wear your beautiful tallit in good health as a Jew!

[@helgacucumber3871]

@@asmallsanctuary Girl you have no idea how much you just helped me - I went back to take a closer look at who I bought these tzitzit from and I think it's a Messianic Christian! I thought something felt a bit off about the shop but I couldn't put my finger on what. She doesn't explicitly state her religion - she just uses vague terms like "Biblical". I would have been mortified if I had used those! I also appreciate the note about the fabric/thread. I had not even thought of that. It's easier to source wool embroidery floss than linen so maybe I'll stick with all wool. I think I'll just tie my own tzittzit and I'll do it all in black and I'll think about adding accents when I'm closer to being done. I'm SO glad I asked you this! Thank you!

[@helgacucumber3871]

@@asmallsanctuary I went digging a little more and she's definitely a Messianic Xtian. I'm so grossed out that someone would be so deliberately deceptive about something so serious!

[@asmallsanctuary]

Oh my! The confusion and deception are very easy - I am glad I could be of help! Do not hesitate to reach out with future questions! @@helgacucumber3871

[@asmallsanctuary]

@@helgacucumber3871 I am so sorry. Unfortunately, that’s the name of their game. Now you know - no harm done! How was your Beit Din? 🙂

[@cindywright4591]

“No Stream” it says.

[@asmallsanctuary]

It should be up now - could you let me know if it’s working? Thank you!

[@cindywright4591]

No, no stream yet! I think I will awhile. Sometimes the video is late in streaming.

[@asmallsanctuary]

@@cindywright4591 how strange! Other people seem to be able to view it fine. I’ll keep my tabs on it. Thank you for letting me know - really appreciate it 😊

[@cindywright4591]

@@asmallsanctuary you are welcome! I enjoy your videos! You have given me a lot to think about!

[@asmallsanctuary]

That’s the best praise :-) thank you!

[@KSea7]

Conversion

[@asmallsanctuary]

That’s the topic you’d like me to address?

[@KSea7]

@@asmallsanctuary Yes, I would love to hear your thoughts and insights on conversions. Also any advise you have for new converts. I am in the process of conversion. My Beit Din is scheduled. My Rabbi told me I can buy a Tallit now for when I am called up. How do I decide which one to purchase? After watching this video I was thinking about ordering the kit but I'm still not sure how I would decorate it.

[@asmallsanctuary]

God willing, I. The fall/winter, I’ll do a conversion series. As for a talk it… have you checked out my Tallis video series? You might find this useful to give you more insight on what to buy. But there are lots of web Judaica stores with great selections. ModernTribe is a good one as is Ben’s Tallit Shop. Can’t wait to hear how your Beit Din went and welcome to the Tribe! Happy New Year! @@KSea7